Japan Parliamentary Mission visits LRT

Members of the House of Representatives from Councilors of the Government of Japan (GOJ) and officials from its Embassy together with representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted a site visit, Tuesday morning of Philippine projects funded by Japan through Official Development Assistance (ODA) which include various LRTA projects.

Headed by Masahito Fujikawa, a representative of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan with 11 other delegates, they visited the LRT Line 1 Depot in Pasay City to validate the completed and on-going projects of LRTA funded by the said country through JICA.

The visitors were welcomed at the LRTA Depot in Pasay by key officials of the Authority headed by Administrator Honorito D. Chaneco.

A brief presentation on the LRT system was held followed by an ocular inspection of the Line 1 Depot. The delegation then took a short train ride of the Line 1 System from the Depot to Baclaran Station and inspected some of the facilities at the said station.

The Japanese delegation was composed of Masami Nishimura of the Democratic Party of Japan; Tomoko Tamura of the Japanese Communist Party; Kunihiko Muroi of the Japan Restoration Party; Yasufumi Okadome, Yuzuru Sakuma and Nobuhiro Yamagoshi of the House of Councilors; Masayuki Harigai and Akio Isomata of the Japanese Embassy; Takahiro Sasaki and Eigo Azukizawa of the JICA Philippine Office.

Among the other Philippine government institutions that will be visited by the Japanese Parliamentary Mission for Japan’s ODA during its 3-day visit in the country are the NEDA, LGU of Pasig-Marikina, San Lazaro Hospital, Maria Clara High School, SCTEX, SBMA, Subic Free Port and the Philippine Coast Guard.

JICA is an independent governmental agency that coordinates ODA for the Government of Japan chartered with assisting economic and social growth in developing countries such as the Philippines.

Its core development programs are technical assistance programs/projects for capacity and institutional development, feasibility studies and master plans with a role in providing capital grants and yen loans. (by Johana Vi E. Gasga)